9H AGO

Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Naturally: A Functional Medicine Approach with Dr. Jason Shumard

Send us Fan Mail Struggling with type 2 diabetes (or know someone who is)? What if everything you've been told about type 2 diabetes is only half the story? In this episode of the Hormone Heroes Podcast, Dr. Kelly Martin Hopkins and Dr. Jason Shumard, a chiropractor and functional endocrinologist, explains how diabetes really works at the cellular level and what you can do about it. They dive into the root causes behind high blood sugar, from diet and sugar spikes to chronic stress, infections, hormonal imbalances, inflammation and even environmental toxins. They also discuss how long-term carbohydrate- and sugar-heavy diets can “overwater” your cells (like Dr. Shumard’s plant analogy) and damage insulin receptors. You’ll hear about the functional medicine approach: comprehensive history, advanced lab testing (hormones, gut health, toxins, nutrient levels) and a personalized plan. Unlike quick-fix diets or pills, the focus here is on building a solid foundation with whole foods, exercise, sleep, hydration and targeted supplements (magnesium, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, B-vitamins, etc.) to heal the body. Dr. Shumard also shares the deeply personal story behind his work and why it shaped his entire philosophy of care. If you or someone you love has been living with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, or unexplained metabolic issues, this episode will give you a new framework for understanding what's really going on and what's actually possible. Key Topics Covered: Differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes explained with analogies (car engine and keys)How lifestyle choices over 10, 20 or 30 years contribute to cellular damage and diagnosisThe role of insulin resistance, blood sugar, and hemoglobin A1C in diabetes progressionThe impact of chronic inflammation, infections, hormonal imbalances, toxins, and genetics in diabetes developmentWhy weight alone isn't the sole indicator of diabetes risk or remission potentialEarly signs and symptoms of diabetes including fatigue, frequent urination, neuropathy, brain fog, and weight gainThe importance of laboratory testing and individualized evaluation for effective treatment plansStrategies for detoxification, hormone balancing, gut health, and toxin removalThe benefits of a comprehensive, personalized, and non-pharmaceutical approach to managing and reversing diabetesIf you found value in this episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review. It helps others find these root-cause health insights! CONNECT WITH US! Website: https://podcast.hormoneheroes.org/2396932TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hormone.heroesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-martin-hopkins-387ab66/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/restorehealthark/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restorehealthark Connect with DR. SHUMARD! Website: https://drshumard.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-shumard-853658140/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjasonshumarddc/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjasonshumardJoi Support the show

44 min

APR 29

Fatigue, Brain Fog & Long COVID: Dr. Jess Armine on How to Reset Your Cell Danger Response (CDR)

Send us Fan Mail Most chronic illnesses, especially Post-COVID conditions (also known as Long COVID), share a largely overlooked root issue: impaired cellular energy production. If you’re struggling with Long COVID, chronic fatigue, or autoimmune symptoms, you’ve likely been told your labs are “normal,” even though you clearly don’t feel well. In this episode of the Hormone Heroes Podcast, Dr. Kelly Martin Hopkins sits down with Dr. Jess Armine, a veteran functional medicine practitioner with over 50 years of experience as an EMT, RN, and chiropractor, to explore the cellular foundations of chronic illness and recovery. Dr. Armine breaks down a foundational approach to restoring health, including the use of Augmented NAC to help break down persistent spike protein fragments, liposomal vitamins for cellular replenishment, and prebiotic/probiotic strategies to rebalance gut flora. He also explains Dr. Robert Naviaux’s Cell Danger Response (CDR), a protective cellular state triggered by chronic stress, toxins, infections, or trauma. When cells remain “stuck” in this mode, mitochondrial function can drop significantly (often operating at 55–60% instead of optimal capacity), limiting the body’s ability to heal and recover. In this episode, you’ll learn about: Mitochondrial dysfunction: How SARS-CoV-2 spike protein may interfere with ATP production, contributing to fatigue and exercise intoleranceThe gut–immune connection: How impaired gut integrity and undigested proteins can drive systemic inflammationHormonal disruption: How chronic inflammation and stress dysregulate cortisol, thyroid, and sex hormonesThe limits of acute care medicine: Why complex chronic cases often require extended, in-depth clinical evaluationDr. Armine challenges the symptom-focused medical model and emphasizes the importance of restoring cellular health as the foundation for resolving chronic disease. This conversation reframes chronic illness not as isolated symptoms, but as a breakdown in cellular energy and communication. If you're tired of band-aid solutions and ready for a science-based approach that puts you back in control, Dr. Jess Armine’s insights will ignite hope and empower your journey to healing. Connect with us! Website: https://podcast.hormoneheroes.org/2396932 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hormone.heroes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-martin-hopkins-387ab66/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/restorehealthark/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restorehealthark Connect with Dr. Armine! Website: www.drjessarmine.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jess-armine-dc-rn-a0537329/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/drjessarmine724/ Youtube: www.youtube.com/@DrJessArmine Free 30-minute Discovery Call: https://drarmine.as.me/getacquainted About the Podcast: Hormone Heroes with Dr. Kelly Hopkins brings inspiring patient stories and expert conversations about hormone health. Each week, Dr. Hopkins, a functional medicine practitioner and hormonal wellness specialist interviews men and women whose lives have changed after bio-identical hormone therapy, along with leading functional medicine practitioners Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Always consult a healthcar Support the show

55 min

APR 13

Reversing Type 2 Diabetes With Five Pillars of Health with Graham Hawley

Send us Fan Mail Type 2 diabetes can feel like a life sentence, but the story we share here points to something far more empowering: when you stop feeding metabolic dysfunction, the body often starts moving back toward balance. I’m joined by certified health and wellness coach Graham Hawley, who got into this work after watching his father and brother suffer years of decline from complications tied to type 2 diabetes. That experience sent him deep into the research and into a coaching mission built around real food, real habits, and real accountability. We walk through Graham’s “five pillars of health” framework: nutrition, exercise and movement, sleep quality, stress management, and mindful alcohol use. We talk about why trying to overhaul everything at once usually backfires, and how small daily changes can create big results over time. Graham also explains why he urges people to start with a baseline blood work panel and to track blood pressure or blood sugar consistently, so you and your doctor can clearly see the trend as your lifestyle improves. You’ll also hear practical, usable tips: what hidden ingredients in processed foods can keep insulin and blood sugar elevated, how sleep acts like a metabolic reset, why blue light and late-night routines matter, and how alcohol can disrupt hormones, recovery, and even fat burning for a full day. We keep it grounded with simple whole food meal ideas and a clear explanation of how repeated insulin spikes can lead to insulin resistance, weight gain, fatty liver risk, and more. If you’re ready to take control of your metabolic health, listen now, share this with someone who needs hope, and subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. After you listen, will you leave a rating and review and tell us which “small step” you’re starting with first? Support the show

38 min

MAR 27

Dr. Jeffrey Brown Explains Why Heavy Periods Are Common But Aren’t Normal

Send us Fan Mail Most women don’t need another quick appointment, another shrug, or another prescription that only quiets symptoms for a few weeks. We sit down with Dr. Jeffrey Brown, a family physician trained in functional medicine and women’s health, to unpack why so many hormone problems are missed and what real root-cause care looks like when you take women seriously. We start with his journey out of high-volume conventional practice and into bioidentical hormone therapy and functional medicine training, including why hormone education is so thin in standard medical pathways. From there we get practical: what a virtual hormone consultation actually involves, why the intake is so detailed, and how deeper testing like saliva hormones, urinary hormone metabolites, and comprehensive stool analysis can reveal patterns that basic labs often miss. We also talk about gut health, inflammation, and why chronic stress keeps the body stuck in fight-or-flight, raising pain and worsening fatigue, brain fog, and mood. If you deal with heavy painful periods, PMS, suspected endometriosis, or the confusing swings of perimenopause, you’ll hear a clear message: common isn’t normal. We break down “estrogen dominance” in plain terms, including progesterone deficiency and progesterone resistance, and why you can’t treat a lab number without treating the whole person. Dr. Brown also makes the case for testosterone therapy for women, covering potential benefits for pain and inflammation, plus the side effects of overdosing and why delivery method matters. If this conversation helps you feel seen, share it with a friend who’s been dismissed, and please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and pass along your biggest takeaway. What symptom have you been told to “just live with”? Support the show

29 min

MAR 20

Sleep Apnea Can Happen To Anyone And Here Is What To Do With Beverly Meyer,CCN

Send us Fan Mail Ten years of morning headaches sent Beverly Meyer, CCN, MBA, to neurologists, dentists, bodywork, and endless dead ends, until one simple at-home sleep test delivered the answer she never expected: sleep apnea. Beverly joins me, Dr. Kelly Hopkins, to unpack why sleep apnea is so often missed, why it affects thin women, kids, and people who don’t even snore, and what the “silent” version looks like when your airway closes, and your oxygen drops hundreds of times a night. We get specific about the symptoms worth taking seriously: waking up coughing or startled, excessive daytime fatigue, brain fog, nighttime urination, and headaches on waking. Beverly explains what’s happening physiologically, why your body uses adrenaline to “micro-arouse” you back into breathing, and how that fragmented sleep can ripple into mood, metabolism, and long-term brain health. If you’ve been told it’s just stress or aging, this conversation offers a clearer checklist and a better next step. We also go hands-on with solutions. We talk about home sleep studies, how insurance typically approves testing, and what you should look for in a device that measures breathing and airflow, not just oxygen. Then we tackle CPAP without the intimidation factor: the learning curve, leak issues, how SleepHQ helps you read your CPAP data, and the newer minimalist mask options, including the Bleep Sleep Eclipse magnetic setup. Beverly also shares her long-time experience with mouth taping and why tongue posture matters for airway support. Along the way, we connect the dots to functional nutrition and “big chemistry” changes, including paleo diet fundamentals, blood sugar stability, and why starting with food and breathing often beats chasing symptoms with a cabinet full of supplements. If this helps you, subscribe, share the episode with someone who wakes up tired, and leave a quick rating and review so more people find it. Support the show

45 min

MAR 9

Functional Medicine, Labs That Matter, And Real-World Results with Dr. Kevin Smith

Send us Fan Mail Your health shouldn’t feel like a guessing game. We sit down with Dr. Kevin Smith, a chiropractor and functional medicine practitioner, to unpack how shifting from symptom-chasing to root-cause care can change everything for thyroid health, adrenal balance, gut function, and metabolic resilience. Instead of a narrow TSH check or a quick prescription, Dr. Kevin walks us through a comprehensive bioscreen and targeted specialty tests that reveal what’s really driving fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, poor sleep, and stubborn inflammation. We dig into the most-missed drivers of low thyroid function, especially Hashimoto’s, and why anemia, blood sugar swings, cortisol rhythm, sex hormones, chronic infections, and food reactions often sit upstream of thyroid misery. You’ll hear how food sensitivity testing can flip a case in days and why the GI MAP stool test is a powerful way to measure the microbiome, yeast, parasites, and gut inflammation. We explore the DUTCH test to map cortisol’s daily curve, showing when stress chemistry is stuck on high or running on empty, and how that disrupts energy, cravings, and mood. Insulin resistance takes center stage as a root cause behind type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular risk, neuropathy, and cognitive decline. Dr. Kevin lays out practical strategies—whole-food, low-carb patterns like keto or carnivore variations for the right person, plus intermittent fasting to reduce insulin load. We share simple, high-impact habits: two meals a day, fewer snacks, strength training, omega-3s, berberine, and cinnamon bark to re-sensitize insulin. Rounding it out, we cover detox basics—how to convert stubborn fat-soluble toxins into water-soluble waste—and why supporting liver and gut function can relieve joint pain, brain fog, and sleep issues. If you’re ready to move beyond vague symptoms and one-size-fits-all plans, this conversation gives you a roadmap: test wisely, find the “why,” and use targeted changes that actually move markers and how you feel. Subscribe now, share this episode with someone who needs answers, and leave a review to help more listeners discover smarter paths to healing. Support the show

46 min

MAR 3

Healing Sjogren’s: A Functional Path To Relief with Divya Dhawan

Send us Fan Mail Most chronic illnesses rarely begin where we first notice them. By the time symptoms appear, the deeper issues are often already unfolding at the level of cellular energy, gut integrity, and immune signaling. In this episode of the Hormone Heroes Podcast, Dr. Kelly Martin Hopkins is joined by Divya Dhawan, Functional Diagnostic Nutritionist, for a conversation that challenges the conventional view of autoimmune disease. Together, they explore what is often left out of standard care: the underlying dysfunctions that drive chronic illness. Sjögren’s Syndrome is a systemic autoimmune condition most commonly associated with dry eyes, dry mouth, fatigue, and joint discomfort. Despite these recognizable symptoms, diagnosis is often delayed for years, as patients are told their labs are “normal” while their lived experience tells a different story. Divya reflects on her own autoimmune journey and how it led her to move beyond symptom-based thinking. Instead of accepting long-term management as the only path forward, she began investigating functional medicine, Ayurvedic principles, and gut-focused interventions to understand why inflammation was occurring in the first place. A pivotal insight in this discussion is the gut-immune relationship. Divya emphasizes that “everything starts in the gut,” highlighting how disruptions in digestion, microbial balance, and nutrient absorption can cascade into immune dysregulation and systemic inflammation. This perspective reframes her experience and many others, not as isolated disease, but as a system-wide breakdown in communication and function. If you’re ready to move beyond band-aid solutions and understand your body at a deeper level, this conversation offers both clarity and hope. Key Topics Covered: What Sjögren's Syndrome actually is (and why it's so often missed for years)The gut-autoimmune connection Divya calls her "aha moment"How Ayurvedic dosha principles apply to modern autoimmune healingWhat functional lab tests (GI mapping, organic acids, hair mineral analysis) actually revealWhy supplements should be the last step, not the firstHow to know if your body is signaling that something's wrong through food reactionsConnect with us! Website: https://podcast.hormoneheroes.org/2396932 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hormone.heroes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-martin-hopkins-387ab66/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/restorehealthark/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restorehealthark Connect with Divya! Website: www.sjogrenssolution.com sjogrenscoach@sjogrenssolution.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjogrensqueen Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/divya.dhn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/divya-dhawan-b645791b6/ About the Podcast: Hormone Heroes with Dr. Kelly Hopkins brings inspiring patient stories and expert conversations about hormone health. Each week, Dr. Hopkins, a functional medicine practitioner and hormonal wellness specialist interviews men and women whose lives have changed after bio-identical hormone therapy, along with leading functional medicine practitioners Support the show

30 min

FEB 26

How Bioidentical Hormones Restored Mood, Energy, And Saved My Life! Josh and April Share Their Story.

Send us Fan Mail Some stories start with a lab test that saves a life. Josh spent years muscling through depression, isolation, and explosive irritability after military service, convinced he was “broken.” A quiet blood draw revealed testosterone levels typical of an 80-year-old, and with thoughtful TRT his mood steadied, mornings lightened, and training finally produced results again. April’s path was different but just as familiar to many women: perfect form, clean nutrition, and relentless effort followed by a crash that erased the rest of the day. Targeted bioidentical therapy—female-appropriate testosterone with progesterone—balanced estrogen dominance and unlocked competitive bodybuilding, then a joyful pivot to cycling with a new obsession for power data. We dig into what actually works. Pellets versus weekly injections, why microdosing wins for stability, and the small details—like needle gauge and rotation—that turn a chore into a sustainable habit. We unpack the myth that female testosterone therapy “bulks,” explaining how restoring a youthful ratio supports fat loss, lean muscle, and mental drive without masculinizing effects when dosed correctly. And we connect performance to purpose, exploring how a healthier mind and body fueled the growth of New You Rejuvenation Spa on Lake Hamilton, where we blend restorative facials and body treatments with targeted sports massage for locals and visiting athletes. From cycling injuries to deep, even pressure work, we share how we’re expanding into couples ashiatsu to protect our joints while delivering more value. If you’re grinding hard yet stalling in the gym, feeling flat by midday, or carrying a cloud you can’t out-think, start with data. Get baseline labs in your 30s so you have a map when stress and time stack up. There’s no shame in seeking balance; the real risk is ignoring a fixable problem. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs hope, and leave a review to help others find the show. What’s the first number you want to check on your health scoreboard? Support the show

22 min

Hormone Heroes with Dr. Kelly Hopkins

Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Naturally: A Functional Medicine Approach with Dr. Jason Shumard

Fatigue, Brain Fog & Long COVID: Dr. Jess Armine on How to Reset Your Cell Danger Response (CDR)

Reversing Type 2 Diabetes With Five Pillars of Health with Graham Hawley

Dr. Jeffrey Brown Explains Why Heavy Periods Are Common But Aren’t Normal

Sleep Apnea Can Happen To Anyone And Here Is What To Do With Beverly Meyer,CCN

Functional Medicine, Labs That Matter, And Real-World Results with Dr. Kevin Smith

Healing Sjogren’s: A Functional Path To Relief with Divya Dhawan

How Bioidentical Hormones Restored Mood, Energy, And Saved My Life! Josh and April Share Their Story.

Ratings & Reviews

Awesome podcast

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Hormone Heroes with Dr. Kelly Hopkins

Episodes

Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Naturally: A Functional Medicine Approach with Dr. Jason Shumard

Fatigue, Brain Fog & Long COVID: Dr. Jess Armine on How to Reset Your Cell Danger Response (CDR)

Reversing Type 2 Diabetes With Five Pillars of Health with Graham Hawley

Dr. Jeffrey Brown Explains Why Heavy Periods Are Common But Aren’t Normal

Sleep Apnea Can Happen To Anyone And Here Is What To Do With Beverly Meyer,CCN

Functional Medicine, Labs That Matter, And Real-World Results with Dr. Kevin Smith

Healing Sjogren’s: A Functional Path To Relief with Divya Dhawan

How Bioidentical Hormones Restored Mood, Energy, And Saved My Life! Josh and April Share Their Story.

Ratings & Reviews

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